Work Social

In the middle of two Christmas socials right now. Last night, our company's Christmas Party was lovely and convenient for me - at The Oyster Shed, walking distance from home! So I skipped heading into the office that day, which was likely to be manic anyway. Besides, I never go in on a Tuesday.

They had a meeting in the office beforehand - end of year company roundup, presentation of achievement awards.. and a prosecco reception. Those of us not present joined a video call - and wow, the number of prosecco bottles! Anyway, the call didn't last long.. and I headed out early, into the bitter cold. I knew most of the route - it was just when I got across London Bridge I was going to have trouble, never having been to this venue before.

It was encouraging that I could see it from the bridge - it faces the river, and in the above shot, it's represented by strings of golden lights at ground level, just to the right of the other visible bridge, Cannon Street Railway Bridge. Looks can be deceptive, though - it should have been easy to get to, just take steps down from the bridge and walk along the riverfront. Hah! Except there are no steps down from the bridge on that side.. well, except that come up on the other side of the bridge. So I had quite a detour before I found myself on the riverfront. Where I discovered how The Oyster Shed probably got its name! It's on Oystergate Walk:

Wow, it was packed - with what looked like work parties! I gave my name at the desk - yelling at the guy so he could hear me over the din. I gave the name of my company, but he didn't have it under that name, of course - he showed me the list of names under which the bookings were held, and I picked the right one. Whereupon he showed me upstairs - we seemed to have the entire upstairs area. Happily, the din was surprisingly much less up there:

Wine bottles were already on the tables - one red, one white (in a cooler) for each few seats, a prosecco reception was waiting to the side, with beer on the other side, coat racks were available, and the name badges for our tables, complete with details of what we'd ordered, were waiting with the prosecco. Some of the food items were highlighted in different colours, presumably to make it easier for the waiters to tell who'd ordered what. There was a sofa to the side, too. So I dumped my coat, grabbed a glass of prosecco and my name badge, and plonked myself on the sofa to wait for the others to arrive.

Seating was unassigned, as last year, you see - so I was waiting to see where people were sitting that I might actually like to talk to. And I have to say, I did very well in that respect! We were a little cramped, though - they'd really squashed the seats in. Service was quick, and their system worked flawlessly. I had the smoked salmon starter - unfortunately, it came daubed with beetroot, which I don't really like, but I managed to scrape most of it off and it was lovely: albeit served with very crispy rye bread, which I didn't finish.

I had the turkey main - possibly my last turkey dinner of the year, I don't generally like it. This, I have to say, however, was delicious, really succulent.. and served with crumbly roast potatoes, a little mash, parsnips, some carrot, gravy, and a sausage, of all things! I can't normally eat English sausages, so I was delighted to find this one to my taste. Dessert was a very nice vegan chocolate brownie, served with a scoop of decent ice cream. Conversation was good - I was let roam free talking about U2, with what seemed like an appreciative audience.. so I certainly had a good night! When the interesting people left, so did I - I wasn't going to drag it out to the bitter end. But yes, a very successful evening! I was quite tired though, so didn't blog last night.

Especially when I knew I'd have plenty of time to do it today, since I sensibly took the day off! (I had tons of leave to take.) This evening is the Christmas Social for The Hideout and their sister group, Movie Roadhouse London (MRL). At the BFI again. And I always book The Archduke for there - but when I was looking, I couldn't get a booking there for this evening! Until I thought I'd try again today, and lo, they had a few timeslots left, including one that suits me perfectly - so I booked.

Tomorrow, back with MRL for Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow as cardinals involved in the election of a new pope. Isabella Rossellini shows up as a nun. Shenanigans are promised. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend. And all the films on for the weekend (that aren't Conclave) are either ones I've seen, or don't want to see, or are on too late - so, another quiet weekend for me.

Back in London, two nights of music beckon. On Monday, I'm at a Conductors' Podium student classical concert at the Royal College of Music. 

And on Tuesday, I'm at another Jazz Night at Americana. Courtesy of CT.

Next Wednesday, storyteller Nell Phoenix - who has a newsletter I've signed up to - has just advertised a night of storytelling at Torriano Avenue! Right, that's me sorted..

On the 12th, I'm headed with London Social Detours to a talk on "Painting the Christmas Story" - a history of paintings of the nativity - at the Wallace Collection. Social afterwards, of course. Daytime, yes - but I start my Christmas holidays that day, whee! And Ivan is planning to meet me afterwards, as he could only stay for a little on Saturday, and didn't get much of a chat with me.

On the 13th.. well now, I could hardly skip Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies' annual Dickens in the City, could I? No, and I'm not..

On the 14th - the Christmas social with Ivan, James, and Martin, who couldn't make it on Saturday! Unfortunately, The Approach Tavern can't accommodate us indoors in the evening, so I've now booked The Bethnal Green Tavern.. who can only guarantee our table until 8pm. Best I seem to be able to do, though..

And on the 15th, I'm back to Ireland for Christmas, returning on the 5th of January. Have a very merry one!